‘Boroitola massacre’ victims remembered in Sirajganj

SIRAJGANJ, Nov 15:  The Boroitola Massacre Day was observed in Kazipur Upazila of Sirajganj on Saturday, commemorating 104 men and women killed by Pakistani occupation forces on November 14, 1971.

The day was marked through various programmes, including paying floral tributes at a memorial erected in Boroitola Village in memory of the victims.

According to local accounts, Pakistani forces launched a brutal attack on the village, killing 104 people, injuring many others and setting the entire village on fire. Two newlywed women were also raped by the occupying troops.

On the night of November 13, a large group of freedom fighters had taken shelter at the house of Ibrahim Ali in the village for strategic reasons. A local collaborator informed the Pakistani forces, who were stationed at the police station, about their presence.

Before dawn on November 14, Pakistani troops took positions on the western side of the village. When two freedom fighters on guard duty injured three Pakistani soldiers, the troops opened heavy fire.

The freedom fighters took positions in a canal on the eastern side of the village and returned fire. Meanwhile, with the assistance of local collaborators, the Pakistani troops attacked the entire village.

Even those who had taken shelter in the village mosque were not spared. Idris Ali and Karim Box, among others, were bayoneted to death inside the mosque while they were engaged in religious activities after prayers. Many villagers were also killed in indiscriminate firing.

The troops detained 27 people on suspicion of helping the freedom fighters and tied them up.

After news of the attack spread, a large group of freedom fighters from Kurulia, Chilgachha, Baikhola, Harina Bhagabati and Gajaria villages arrived under the leadership of freedom fighter KM Hossain Ali Hasan and launched a counterattack.

The fighting continued relentlessly from 11:00am to 3:00pm, forcing the Pakistani troops to retreat. While fleeing, they shot dead the 27 detained people and another 26 innocent villagers.